WINE & FOOD AFFAIR RECIPES

Appetizers

Arancini alla Carbonara

West Wines

1000 Dry Creek Road
Healdsburg, CA 95448
westwines.com

This is a spaghetti carbonara inspired arancini recipe with creamy mozzarella and crispy bacon. Romans would use pork jowl, if you're seeking a rich middle of the road protein. Pancetta would do well in this recipe. We pair this dish with our 2018 Opera Cuvée - an Italian inspired blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese. Deliziosa!

Ingredients:
  • 75 grams mozzarella cut into 2cm cubes or shredded
  • 50 grams plain cornstarch well seasoned
  • 3 eggs beaten
  • 100 grams panko breadcrumbs
  • 20 grams granulated onion
  • 1 pound pancetta or thick cut bacon diced
  • 4 cloves roasted garlic bashed or minced
  • 1 cup Parmesan finely grated
  • 5 tablespoons double cream
  • 2 pounds spaghetti broken into 2 cm pieces
  • 1/4 teaspoon black peppper
Directions:
To make the carbonara, put the pancetta and garlic into a cold frying pan and cook for 5-10 minutes or until the fat has rendered from the pancetta and is really crisp, and the garlic is golden. Remove from the heat and discard the garlic.

Beat together the egg yolks, black pepper, Parmesan and double cream in a small bowl.

Cook the spaghetti in salted boiling water following pack instructions, then drain, reserving a cup of the pasta water.

Tip the spaghetti into the pancetta pan and add a spoonful of the cooking water to the yolk mix. Stir well, then pour into the pancetta pan and put over a low heat. Toss everything, adding a little more pasta water and cooking for a minute until the sauce is thick. Cool completely then chill for 2 hours.

Using damp, clean hands take a piece of mozzarella and form the cold carbonara round it to roughly the size of a golf ball and put on a tray. Repeat with the remaining mozzarella and carbonara.

Toss the arancini first into the seasoned four, then in the beaten egg and then the breadcrumbs, so they’re well coated.

Fill a pan no more than 1/3 full with vegetable oil and heat to 350°F or until a cube of bread browns in 30 seconds. Cook the arancini, in batches, for 2-3 minutes or until really crisp and golden, then drain on kitchen paper and season lightly with sea salt fakes.

Directions:

Can freeze ahead of time. Best served with a creamy tomato dipping sauce (aurora sauce).

West Wines

1000 Dry Creek Road
Healdsburg, CA 95448
westwines.com

2018 Opera Cuvée (Tuscan Style Blend)